Chicken Little Syndrome

Dumb Mistake Number One that Smart People Make: Chicken Little Syndrome

When something falls on the head of Chicken Little, the infamous piece of poultry assumes that the sky is falling, and that all in the world are doomed.

Also referred to as “catastophizing” or “awfulizing” (by Albert Ellis), the Chicken Little Syndrome leads people to jump to conclusions about the awful-ness of circumstances, and even create worst-case scenarios for themselves. Pessimism instead of optimism. It’s the “sinking feeling” that one gets when your boss announces that s/he wants to talk to you in 20 minutes. Do you spend the next 20 minutes excited about the possibilities, or terrorized by worry about all the mistakes you’ve made, and the horrible consequences that could result?

Unfrotunately, these catastrophisizing thoughts can actually make things worse – and in some cases even CAUSE the catastrophic events that we fear most. As stated in the book, The Ten Dumbest Mistakes Smart People Make and How to Avoid Them, thinking the worst can actually bring about the disaster you fear – and it can happen in very subtle ways, and in just a matter of seconds.

One example is that of Mark, who is preparing to deliver a speech to his colleagues. Even as he approaches the microphone, instead of focusing on the content of his speech, Mark is awfulizing. The horrible scene flies through his mind:

What if the microphone won’t work? I’ll get upset and lose my place. I’ll stutter. Then I’ll get the whole thing messed up. Everyone will laugh at me. That will make my boss furious. I can forget about any kind of promotion. I’ll be lucky if I keep my job. This speech could destroy me.”

In a matter of seconds, Mark has written a “script for disaster.” By the time he opens his mouth, he is convinced that his job is on the line. How well can one perform under that kind of self-imposed pressure?

The authors do point out, however, that avoiding those awfulizing thoughts, and instead thinking REALISTICALLY, does not mean cheerfully assuming that nothing bad will ever happen, and that everything will always be okay. It does mean challenging the realism of your awfulizing thoughts, preparing for what you CAN prepare for, and then catching yourself when you fall into the trap of writing a script for disaster before you’ve even started.

Like Chicken Little, instead of asking “Gee, I wonder what hit me on the head? It may be a small piece of sky. Perhaps I should gather more information and perhaps consult with an expert?” we all too often jump to grand conclusions based on a small piece of evidence, exaggerate the importance or awful-ness of it, and get ourselves all worked up into a panic.

So what can we do about it? Challenge Those Negative, Pessimistic, Catastrophizing Thoughts!
Authors Freeman and DeWolf suggest DE-Catastrophizing. Becoming aware of Chicken-Little thoughts and challenging the truthfulness of those fears. For Mark, in the example above, he could ask “Is this speech really the death of me? My career?” “Have I made this too important? Am I jumping to conslusions? Am I assuming that the sky is falling?”

What are your automatic self-destructive awfulizing thoughts? What are the common paths to Chicken Littledom?

The Path of Global Effect. Sounds like (and I’m paraphrasing): “That sucked. I didn’t do that well at all. I suck. I don’t do anything well.” This happens when we take a small incident, and assign global truths to it. Taking a single unpleasant event, and making generalized assumptions about how it applies to all future similar events.

The Path of Generalization. Sounds like, “That didn’t work. It will never work. I asked 2 women/men out on dates. They both said no. Women/men just don’t like me. I’ll never find someone to love me.” From Shakespeare’sJulius Caesar, “A coward dies many times before his death.” We fail once, and imagine a million failures therafter; most unrealitic.

The Path of Imitation, also known as “The Turkey Lurkey Effect.” Adopting the conclusions of others, without questioning, disputing, or challenging their reality.

The Path of Magnification. Assuming that a small event or mistake will have insurmountable consequences. Hyponchondriasis. A boss’s sincerely productive feedback. Making a mountain out of a molehill.

Do any of those sound familiar? Which path might YOU take when under stress that exacerbates your anxiety and leads to awfulizing?

LIFE COACHING Exercise / Assignment for the Day: Practice “catching” those assumptions you make, the generalizations you make, and the awfulizing and catastrophizing thoughts, and challenge them. Refuse to automatically adopt a pessimistic and over-blown reaction to your situation.

Coach Jana is the Founder of Life in Motion Coaching and is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, Crossfit coach, nutritonist, therapist, and life coach from Tucson, Arizona, now living in Sacramento, California.
Jana has a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling, and is a published author on various topics including Changing Your Attitude, Stages of Change, and Identifying Thoughts that Keep us Stuck. Jana specializes in Wellness for Women, and Women's Health and Lifestyle.
Jana is the author and developer of various projects, books and articles, including having developed the Curvy Woman Workout program, and Fat Blast Meal Plans for Women

About coachjana

Coach Jana is the Founder of Life in Motion Coaching and is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, Crossfit coach, nutritonist, therapist, and life coach from Tucson, Arizona, now living in Sacramento, California.
Jana has a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling, and is a published author on various topics including Changing Your Attitude, Stages of Change, and Identifying Thoughts that Keep us Stuck. Jana specializes in Wellness for Women, and Women's Health and Lifestyle.
Jana is the author and developer of various projects, books and articles, including having developed the Curvy Woman Workout program, and Fat Blast Meal Plans for Women